Pati pt.4

Hello, hope you are having a good day.

Eylan and Balinor spent the next hour tending to Merlin. They were getting more cold water when Merlin woke up screaming. Balinor went to him and shushed him but it did no good.

"Merlin, tell me what's wrong." Balinor said. Merlin didn't hear but he fought and screamed. Balinor noticed that Merlin was hyperventilating. "Merlin, you need to calm down. You're making yourself worse."

"What's wrong?" Elyan asked.

"He's hyperventilating. Hand me the poultice on the table."

Elyan grabbed the poultice and handed it to Balinor. Balinor put it on Merlin's chest and then uttered as spell. Merlin calmed down quickly and fell back to sleep.

"Hopefully, he'll remain calm." Balinor sighed. "The more poultices I use, the more likely it is that I'll have to quickly make another."

"What happens when the poultice stops working?" Elyan wondered.

"You just saw what happens."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"For now, we just keep making poultices."

ELyan and Balinor spent the rest of the night making poultices and teas for Merlin. Merlin woke up hyperventilating several times during the night. It was almost dawn when Merlin woke.

"Father, I can't see." Merlin moaned. Balinor went to Merlin and took the cold wet cloth from the bowl and put it on Merlin's forehead. Merlin gasped slightly.

"It's just me, Merlin. How do you feel?" Balinor asked.

"Not good. I'm in so much pain. I can't see."

"It's just your fever. You'll be fine. Can we try to get the toxins out of your body?"

Merlin nodded. Elyan handed Balinor a tea and Balinor helped Merlin drink a bit.

"You don't need to drink all of it right now. This will make you have to go a lot. Ok?" Balinor warned.

"Yes, father." Merlin mumbled. For the next several minutes, Balinor had to help Merlin as the toxins were pushed out of his body. Merlin was very tired from the first time and wanted to sleep so Balinor let him. Arthur came in and saw how exhausted Elyan and Balinor were.

"You two should get some rest." Arthur suggested.

"I can't. Not till he's well enough to travel." Balinor answered. Elyan nodded and left the room.

"Balinor, you won't be able to help Merlin if you're ill. He needs you."

"He can't see."

"What?"

"He can't see. He's blind. I keep telling him that it will go away and that it's just his fever but I'm not sure. I used my magic and looked at his body and he's worse. He just fell asleep and now he's in a coma. It's obvious, Arthur. He won't wake for a long time and that means we won't be able to get rid of the toxins easily."

"How about a poultice? If he can't eat or drink to get the toxins out, why not use a poultice?"

"It wouldn't help him, Arthur. There's a good chance that he'll be blind for the rest of his life."

"Balinor, you never gave up hope in the past. He's faced death several times and each time, he has recovered and has become stronger than before. He will make it."

"I hope so."

"You told us to encourage him. I think he can hear you and feel how you feel and I don't think he's happy."

"You're right."

Arthur left and Balinor went back to tending to Merlin. Merlin was in a coma but everyone realized the it was a good thing because his body was starting to recover better. One evening, Balinor was holding Merlin's hand and talking to him.

"Hunith was taking care of Freya while you were gone. Freya might have given birth by now." Balinor said. He was about to continue but he felt Merlin squeeze his hand. "Merlin?"

"Father?" Merlin moaned. He opened his eyes.

"I'm here, Merlin. How do you feel?"

"Really weak and tired."

"You've been in a coma for a week. You've gotten better."

"I can see again."

"Let's get some food into you. You're still recovering."

"I'm too tired."

"Just a few bites."

Merlin sighed and watched as Balinor got up and got a bowl of broth.

"I don't want broth." Merlin mumbled.

"You will eat it. You're not strong enough to handle anything else. Now, I want you to swallow this." Balinor ordered. Merlin did as he was told. An hour later, Merlin had eaten only a few bites in fear that it might come back up. Balinor was making him a tea to help him recover. Merlin took a few sips before falling asleep. Balinor smiled at Merlin knowing that he would be fine.

Freya was worried and everyone knew it. They all told her to be careful but she couldn't help it. The day after Merlin woke, she woke realizing that the baby was coming soon. She got up and got dressed. She took care of the kids and was cooking breakfast when she felt intense pain. She gasped and sat down.

"Imogene, go get Hunith and Gaius." Freya said.

"Why?" Imogene asked.

"I'm about to have the baby."

Imogene ran to get Hunith and Gaius. When they came back, Freya was in bed panting.

"How bad?" Freya wondered as Hunith checked her over.

"You'll be fine." Hunith answered.

"I can't do this without Merlin. I need him, Hunith."

"I know. We'll help you through this. He will be home soon."

Freya nodded and held Hunith's hand. An hour later, Freya gave birth to a baby boy.

"He's so adorable and he looks just like Merlin. You did a good job." Hunith whispered. She handed the baby to Freya who took him and wrapped him in the small blanket next to her.

"He's beautiful. Can the kids come in?" Freya replied.

"Yes, but only for a little bit."

Hunith went to get the kids while Gaius cleaned up. The kids came in and went to Freya. Hunith helped them unto the bed. Sabrina was in Freya's arms with the baby. The other four sat close to Freya with smiles on their faces.

"This is your baby brother." Freya said.

"What's his name?" Imogene wondered.

"I'm waiting till your father comes home so he can help name the baby."

"When will father be home?"

"I don't know."

Sabrina grabbed the baby's hand and looked at it in awe.

"Baby." Sabrina cooed.

"Yep, that's your baby brother." Freya answered.

Merlin was awake having to fight the toxins out of his body. He just wanted to sleep but he was still fighting and he needed his magic.

"Father, I am not drink that stuff. I've done it all morning and I feel really sick." Merlin moaned.

"You will. This is the last time, I promise." Balinor replied.

"You said that last time."

"There's only a little more then you'll be done."

"No."

"You will do as you're told."

"No."

"Now."

"No."

"Ok, then I guess you'll just have to suffer."

"Fine."

Merlin drank the rest of the tea. He gave the cup to Balinor and then started throwing up again. When he was finally done, he moaned.

"Time to get you cleaned up." Balinor sighed.

"I'm too tired." Merlin mumbled.

"Go to sleep."

Merlin laid down and went to sleep.

"AT least he's getting better." Arthur said.

"Yes, but now we need to deal with the people here." Balinor sighed.

"I know."

TBC

I know. It's a bit rushed but I tried. My grandma died a few weeks ago and we went down south for her funeral and then last week my great grandma's old house which was being rented to my mom's cousin burned down. So I've been busy.